Russia: Thousands pay last respects to Gorbachev in Moscow, Putin a no-show

Thousands of mourners lined up Saturday to pay tribute to the eighth and final Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, lauded in the West for helping end the Cold War, in a farewell burial snubbed by Russian President

The Kremlin's refusal to declare a state funeral reflects its uneasiness about the legacy of Gorbachev, who remains reviled by many at home for the Soviet collapse.

On Thursday, Putin privately laid flowers at Gorbachev's coffin at a Moscow hospital where he died. The Kremlin said the president's busy schedule would prevent him from attending the funeral.

Read more at: housands pay last respects to Gorbachev in Moscow, Putin a no-show | Euronews

France: A million take to Paris streets for Johnny Hallyday's funeral - by Kim Willsher

To the blast of electric guitars, the revving of Harley-Davidsons, applause and tears, France bade an emotional farewell to Johnny Hallyday, France’s rock and roll “national hero” on Saturday.

The centre of Paris ground to a halt as the wave of national grief that has overwhelmed the country since news of the death of the singer, known as the French Elvis, at the age of 74 broke early on Wednesday morning.

In scenes resonant of the mass mourning in Britain following the death of Princess Diana, police said a million fans had lined the route of the funeral procession, which was accompanied by Hallyday’s band playing live, as it made its way from the Arc de Triomphe along the Champs-Élysées to Place de la Concorde and on to the church of La Madeleine.

Hallyday’s widow, Laeticia, and their two adopted children Jade, 13, and Joy, nine, followed the cortege. Fans, many in tears, threw flowers at the hearse.
Hallyday’s older children, David Hallyday and Laura Smet, waited on the steps of the church to receive the coffin.

A visibly emotional Emmanuel Macron, a Hallyday fan who had called for a “people’s tribute” to the singer, told the crowds: “You are here for him, for Johnny Hallyday. After 60 years of career, 1,000 songs, 50 albums … you are still there, still there, always there. I know you’re waiting for him to jump out from somewhere, he’s on a bike, he comes towards you and starts the first song and you start singing with him.”

As the crowd cheered, whistled and shouted “Johnny, Johnny”, he continued: “Yes, this December Saturday is sad, but you have to be here for Johnny because from the beginning Johnny was there for you. In moments of your life one of his songs translated something you had in your heart … an indefinable humanity that made us feel less alone. That’s how Johnny came into our lives … he became a necessary presence, a friend, a brother.”

Read more: A million take to Paris streets for Johnny Hallyday's funeral | Music | The Guardian

Turkey: "Not the Greatest": Erdogan Snubbed Ahead of Muhammad Ali Funeral, Departs US

A series of incidents finally forced Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to interrupt his visit to the United States, where he planned to attend the funeral ceremony for boxing icon Muhammad Ali.

President Erdogan always acting like a spoiled kid

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan quickly interrupted his visit to the United States after an array of incidents ahead of the funeral service of boxing legend Muhammad Ali in his native city of Louisville, Kentucky, which Erdogan planned to attend, according to the Turkish newspaper Hurriyet.

The newspaper quoted presidential sources in Ankara as saying that Erdogan moved to depart for Turkey without taking part in the full funeral ceremony for the late boxer, which was attended by former US President Bill Clinton, Jordan's King Abdullah and former Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

When participating in funeral prayers for Ali on June 9, Erdogan reportedly tried to a put a piece of cloth from the Kaaba on the boxer's coffin but was refused the opportunity to do so.

Eyewitnesses said that the organizers allegedly offered to put the piece of cloth on the casket themselves later on

However, another report claimed that Erdogan and Mehmet Gormez, head of Turkey's Religious Affairs Directorate, were also forbidden to read a piece from the Quran near the boxer's coffin.

Apparently, this proved to be the last straw, and compelled Erdogan to cut his trip short and return home.

Meanwhile, the Voice of America's Turkish edition reported that a short quarrel also erupted between US secret service officials and Turkish presidential body guards during Erdogan's visit to the Muhammad Ali Center in Kentucky.

The embattled Turkish President has, for his part, recently faced international condemnation for his repeated crackdowns on political opponents and journalists, along with his administration's continued practice of buying oil from and funneling armaments to Daesh terrorists.

Note EU-Digest: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also is being criticized by members of the opposition at home for wasting Tax Payers money on these overseas self-promotion tours. 

This one to the US where Erdogan wanted to play a major role during the commemorative event for Muhammad Ali certainly backfired

 Read more:  Not the Greatest: Erdogan Snubbed Ahead of Muhammad Ali Funeral, Departs US

USA: Muhammad Ali funeral: Rousing farewell at Louisville interfaith memorial -

Rousing tributes have been paid to boxing legend Muhammad Ali at a memorial service in his home city of Louisville, Kentucky.

Muslim, Christian, Jewish and other speakers spoke of his fight for civil rights, while a message from President Barack Obama praised his originality.

The interfaith event took place hours after thousands said farewell to his coffin passing through city streets.

Ali was buried in a private ceremony attended by friends and family.

The ex-heavyweight champion and rights activist died last Friday aged 74.

The service, attended by dignitaries and by several thousand people who acquired free tickets, was held at the KFC Yum! Centre.

Read more: Muhammad Ali funeral: Rousing farewell at Louisville memorial - BBC News

USA - Muhammad Ali Funeral:Erdogan and his nemesis Gulen reportedly both invited to Muhammad Ali funeral | Middle East Eye

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may be attending the funeral of Muhammad Ali alongside his arch-nemesis, cleric Fethullah Gulen, according to Turkish media

Left-leaning newspaper SoL and nationalist daily Cumhuriyet said that the two are both expected to attend the funeral on 10 June, provoking concern about the possibility of a public spat between the allies-turned-enemies. However, Gulen has yet to officially confirm his attendance.

Beside #Erdogan, Turkish cleric Gulen also to attend #Ali funeral, likely nerve test for Louisville law enforcement.

Both Erdogan and Gulen offered condolences to the family of the former heavyweight boxer and activist, following his death at the age of 74, last Friday.

“I learned with grief the passing of Mr Muhammad Ali, an individual who was dear to hundreds of millions of people around the world for his achievements in sports, strength of conviction, amicable personality and philanthropy,” said Gulen in a statement on Wednesday.

“Through his professional accomplishments as well as his standing up for his beliefs, Muhammad Ali served as a role model and a source of hope for youth living in difficult conditions around the world.”

Erdogan, for his part, tweeted that Ali’s “courage, conviction and determination inspired all of humanity."

Gulen had previously been an ally of Erdogan and had aided his Justice and Development Party in its rise to power in 2002.

However, the two split over a 2013 corruption scandal - in which Erdogan claimed that Gulenists elements inside state institutions had pushed for the arrest of Erdogan’s allies - leading to an arrest warrant being issued for the cleric in December 2014.

Since then, hundreds have been arrested in Turkey over alleged Gulenist links. The Zaman newspaper, previously the country’s best-selling daily, was seized by the government and staff fired en masse after it was accused of involvement in the “Fethullahist terror organisation”.

Last week, the Turkish government officially designated the Gulen movement - also known as the Hizmet movement - a “terrorist” organisation, grouping it in the same category as the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) and Islamic State group.

"We will not let those who divide the nation off the hook in this country," Erdogan told supporters in the city of Izmir last Monday.

"They will be brought to account. Some fled and some are in prison and are currently being tried. This process will continue."

Originally, Erdogan had expected to speak at Ali’s funeral, but the organisers later announced that no foreign leader would be speaking to avoid politicising the event.

Read more: Erdogan and his nemesis Gulen reportedly both invited to Muhammad Ali funeral | Middle East Eye

South Africa: Nelson Mandela memorial draws thousands to stadium to celebrate ‘moment of sadness with song and dance - By Jon Gambrell, Julie Pace and Alan Clendenning

Among the nearly 100 heads of state and government were some from countries like Cuba that don’t hold fully democratic elections. On the way to the podium, Obama shook hands with Cuban President Raul Castro, underscoring a recent warming of relations between Cuba and the U.S.

The handshake between the leaders of the two Cold War enemies came while Obama was greeting a line of world leaders and heads of state. Among those he greeted was Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, who has clashed with Obama over alleged National Security Agency spying.

The U.S. and Cuba have recently taken small steps toward rapprochement, raising hopes the two nations could be on the verge of a breakthrough in relations. But skeptics caution that the two countries have shown signs of a thaw in the past, only to fall back into old recriminations.

Read more: Nelson Mandela memorial draws thousands to stadium to celebrate ‘moment of sadness with song and dance’ | National Post